Festival of Speed star comes to the MTC

One of the stars of this year’s Festival of Speed at Goodwood – the Mono Art Car – is on display at the Manufacturing Technology Centre until September.

The Art Car is a collaboration between Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) and leading software developer Autodesk, a member of the MTC.

Autodesk’s CFD software was used to develop elements of the Mono supercar. The design of the paint-scheme was inspired by Autodesk simulation tools, especially its CFD software– essentially a virtual wind tunnel that allows designers to visualize airflow over a 3D model. The resulting livery shows the results and provides Mono with one of the most intricate designs to have left the Liverpool factory.

BAC co-founder and design director, Ian Briggs, said: “Good design is at the heart of Mono and is paramount in everything we do at BAC. Having worked with Autodesk for many years, it is a pleasure to create something as beautiful as this Art Car.

“Not only is it one of the most striking and intricate Mono colour schemes we have ever created, it also shows the intelligent design of Mono and how we use Autodesk software to help create the perfect car.”

Greg Fallon, vice president of simulation at Autodesk, added: “Autodesk has worked with BAC since 2015, providing manufacturing expertise on various elements of the Mono, and we are looking forward to continuing the relationship in future BAC-led vehicle optimisation projects.

“The Mono is one of a kind, which fits with our mission and vision: we don’t follow – we work to help our customers innovate and disrupt their industries in new and exciting ways.”

This is the first time a car’s aerodynamic simulation has been visually represented across its body. It joins a host of other firsts developed by BAC. The Mono is the only car in the world to use Graphene on a road car, it was also the first to feature revolutionary carbon-hybrid road wheels. The Mono remains the fastest road legal car to have set a lap record around the Top Gear test track.